What's New: Two Bay Area Mexican restaurants

Updated 1:14 pm, Thursday, May 2, 2013

A pair of high-profile Mexican restaurants opened last week, just in time for Cinco de Mayo festivities.

Copita, in Sausalito, is from restaurateur Larry Mindel (Poggio, Il Fornaio) and chef Joanne Weir, and is the result of a margarita contest between the two friends. Weir, who had just written a book on Tequila, proved victorious in the battle, but not before convincing Mindel that Marin could use a place like Copita.

They remodeled the 50-seat former Piccolo Teatro space, keeping the picturesque streetside patio and adding a fiery rotisserie oven, visible from the dining room. Weir, who last worked in a restaurant during her time at Chez Panisse years ago, has created a seasonal Mexican menu, showcasing produce from the nearby Poggio garden. Margaritas are, of course, also involved.

In Berkeley, Comal is banking on a similar formula of Bay Area-influenced Mexican fare and Tequila.

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It's the brainchild of first-time restaurateur John Paluska, who spent the last two decades managing the rock band Phish. He's surrounded himself with plenty of established talent: Chef Matt Gandin was chef de cuisine at Delfina for four years, and the cocktail and spirits program is from local bar stars Bon Vivants (a.k.a. Scott Baird and Josh Harris).

At 140 seats, Comal is nearly three times as big as Copita. Abueg Morris Architects (Roam, Nopalito) did the design, and come the summer months, the expansive patio is expected to be open for business, too.